A Catholic Italy?

Ex-Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Belusconi, is reported to have said 'we want Italy to be Catholic and of Italians'. Whilst it is just on four months since Berlusconi conceded defeat, it could be argued that Italy did not agree with this attitude. However, results in the election were extremely close and so it is difficult to determine. The Professor of Contemporary European History at the University of Florence, Paul Ginsborg, is Berlusconi's biographer and has stated that Berlusconi is looking at a political comeback. Berlusconi remains the leader of the CDL (Italy's opposition party) and the next election could also be just as close.

Nationalism and tightening immigration laws are gaining a great deal of political clout in Europe over the past decade. Particularly countries such as Holland and France are beginning to be concerned over the amount of Arab Islamic immigration. Not only is the immigration seen as a problem in Europe, but the fact that Muslims appear to be the only group with increasing birth rates beyond replenishing rates. This increases the proportion of the population that are of Arabic descent and of Islamic religion. The culture of both the religions and ethnicities are very different and many Europeans are feeling that the culture of their native countries are changing.

How the Italians enter into this political issue over the coming years will be interesting to observe and it appears that the next election might very well be won and lost on this battle ground.